Happy Kanako's Killer Life manga gets anime in April 2027

The four-panel comedy Happy Kanako's Killer Life (Shiawase Kanako no Koroshiya Seikatsu) is getting a TV anime. It premieres in April 2027, and we already know its main cast.

Hana Shūkai plays Kanako Nishino, the protagonist who leaves an exploitative company and ends up as a contract killer. It's her first leading role, and you can tell she's excited. Ryōta Suzuki voices Sakurai, Kanako's senpai, and Junichi Suwabe voices the company boss.

The team behind the anime looks promising too. Direction and script are handled by Shinji Takamatsu, known for comedies like Gin Tama and Grand Blue. Studio Drive, which worked on the third season of KonoSuba, is in charge of animation, with Yoshiyuki Ōkubo on character design.

A trailer with otters and a career change

The announcement came with a first promotional video that opens like a staffing agency ad, featuring a real short-clawed otter, and shows Kanako determined to quit her black company and become an assassin. Quite a statement of intent for a series that mixes absurd humor with the work frustration we know all too well.

Kanako holds an otter in the anime visual.pashplus.jp

The main visual doesn't fall short either: Kanako arrives at a job interview surrounded by guns on all sides, looking like she has no idea what she got into. That contrast between the cute art style and the violent context is exactly what makes this series special.

A team that's having fun

The author, Toshiya Wakabayashi, didn't hide his happiness: "It's getting an anime!!!! I'm so happy!!!!". He also joked that after watching the series someone might feel like changing jobs, but he takes no responsibility.

Shūkai said she already knew the manga before the audition and feels very comfortable playing Kanako because she connects with her emotions. She also mentioned she does animal voices too, like the otter from the famous "Uso uso uso uso kotsume kawauso!"

Sakurai, Kanako's senpai, with his signature hat.pashplus.jp

Suzuki, for his part, admitted the hardest part was keeping Sakurai's seriousness while everyone around him fooled around during recordings. And Suwabe made it clear that his character, the boss, is a mystery that will be revealed slowly.

The manga started on social media and already had a live-action drama adaptation. Now it's the anime's turn, and with this team there are plenty of reasons to look forward to it. What do you think of the cast? I'll read you in the comments.